Dorothy "Dottie" F. Zapp

Dorothy “Dottie” Zapp, age 98, of Taghkanic, New York, passed away peacefully to heaven on September 23, 2026. Dorothy was born on July 3, 1928, in Hartford, Connecticut to Percy and Helen Hallowell. 

After the passing of her mother at a young age, much of her childhood was spent in the White Mountains of New Hampshire living with her grandparents where, according to Dorothy, they wore long johns year-round. After high school, she attended the Katharine Gibbs secretarial school at a time when secretarial training was one of the few paths to a career for women. Shortly thereafter, she landed a job as a secretary with an international trade attorney on Wall Street in NYC.

Her life took a sharp turn after meeting a handsome farmer in a cowboy hat, Nicholas Zapp, at a guest ranch in Columbia County where horseback riding and square dancing were the main attractions. Nicholas and Dorothy got married on November 1, 1952, which marked the beginning of Dorothy’s new life as a dairy farmer’s wife in Taghkanic, New York. Her city office life was now replaced with caring for farm animals, gardening, sewing, preserving food, raising children, and cooking homemade meals on a shoestring budget. Dorothy enjoyed good conversation and generously listened to others from all walks of life while enjoying food and drinks in her home or by phone (in the early years via the party line telephone). She volunteered as a Sunday school teacher, as a local 4-H leader, and with the Taghkanic Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary.

In the last chapter of Dorothy’s life, she evolved into a dedicated grandmother. She provided her grandchildren with the most important thing of all, her time and attention. Her wild imagination and sense of humor made childhood special for her grandkids. For years, unbeknownst to her grandkids, she would transform herself into a real life witch with a broom stick that would surprise them each Halloween. Dorothy attended sports games in the rain or snow with her cowbell, and she was always up for a road trip. Dorothy never stopped moving, doing yard work and cooking meals for her family into her late 80’s, which was a key to her longevity.

Dorothy was pre-deceased by her husband, Nicholas Zapp; daughter, Jana Packard; granddaughter, Fiona McKnight; and siblings, Frank Hallowell, Flora Robinson, and Jacqueline Rengers. She is survived by her daughter, Audrey (Peter) Meicht; son, Dean (Michele) Zapp; daughter, Jamie Libertelli; son in law, Steven Packard; grandchildren, Louis (Meredith) Zapp and their children, Arden and Granger, Ashley (William) Donley and their children, William and Callum, Nicholas (Molly) Zapp and their sons, Luke, Alexander (Lexie) McKnight, Seth Packard, and Joseph (fiancé Amelia) Libertelli; nieces, Suzanne Zapp and Dorothy Robinson; and nephew, Ronald (Deborah) Herishko; as well as other family and friends. 

A celebration of life will be held on November 1, 2026 from 1:00-5:00 at the Taghkanic Firehouse (631 Old Route 82, Craryville, NY 12521) with Dorothy’s favorite desserts being served.